Youth advocacy roadmap: Data, stories, and intergenerational collaboration
https://mhanational.org/
Join Mental Health America’s Young Leaders Council members as they share their personal journeys from awareness to action in mental health advocacy. In this session, you’ll discover how these young advocates got started, how mentors supported them along the way, and how they’re using research, storytelling, and peer support to create meaningful change in their communities.
Using MHA’s State of Mental Health in America and Supporting Young Minds resources, we’ll provide a powerful starting point for young advocates and their adult allies alike. We’ll explore how to craft compelling narratives, identify local decision-makers, and build the intergenerational partnerships that make youth-led initiatives successful.
Whether you’re a young person ready to find your advocacy entry point or an adult seeking to support youth-led mental health initiatives, this session provides actionable insights and inspiration for turning awareness into impact.
Join MHA for this 60-minute session where we will:
- Identify personal entry points and pathways into youth mental health advocacy based on real experiences from Young Leaders Council members
- Learn practical strategies for translating State of Mental Health in America data into compelling local advocacy messages that resonate with decision-makers who influence youth mental health policy
- Recognize the critical role of adult allies and mentorship in supporting effective youth-led mental health initiatives
- Access practical tools and resources for fostering intergenerational collaboration in community mental health advocacy efforts
Meet the speakers:
Travis Haughton is a film director, producer, and screenwriter who uses storytelling to break mental health stigma in the Black community.
Asia Horne is a Senior Coordinator at Grassroots Health in Washington, DC, where she uses sports to reimagine health education for middle schoolers.
Deb Coffy is a Haitian American mental health advocate, researcher, and writer who focuses on Black LGBTQ+ mental health and reproductive justice.